Things to Do in Bruges: A Practical Visitor Guide

October 30, 2026

Plan around closed days

Most visitors to Bruges pick from about eight paid sights, and almost every one has a weekly closed day or a seasonal schedule. The list below gives each sight with its practical details, so you can fit them together. Late morning to late afternoon is the crowded stretch, so save outdoor wandering for the early or late hours.

Quick reference

Canal boat: 30 minutes, adults EUR 15, children aged 4 to 11 EUR 9, under 4 free. Pay at one of five landing stages, with cash or Payconiq, as there is no advance booking.
Belfry (Markt 7): 83 m high, 366 steps, no lift. Adults pay EUR 16, or EUR 15 on winter weekdays. A time slot is recommended.
Sint-Janshospitaal (Mariastraat 38): EUR 15, closed Mondays.
Gruuthusemuseum (Dijver 17C): EUR 15, closed Wednesdays.
Church of Our Lady museum: EUR 10, or EUR 19 with the Gruuthuse.
De Halve Maan brewery (Walplein 26): EUR 16 with a beer.
Choco-Story (Wijnzakstraat 2): open daily from 10:00.
Adornes Estate (Peperstraat 3): EUR 11, closed Sundays.

Boats: what to know

The boats follow one route, from Jan van Eyckplein to the Begijnhof, with a guide at the helm. The landing stages are on Katelijnestraat, Nieuwstraat, Wollestraat, the Rozenhoedkaai and Huidenvettersplein, and the route and price are the same at each. From March to October the stages are staffed from 10:00 to 18:00. In winter, from November to February, at least one stage is open each day on rotation. The boats are open to the weather and have steps at the water, so they are unsuitable for wheelchairs. For the stage list, see Visit Bruges .

Climbing the Belfry

The Belfry holds a 47-bell carillon, which is played on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 12:00. Summer opening is 09:00 to 20:00, from about April to early November, and the winter schedule is shorter on weekdays. Under 18s pay EUR 14 or EUR 13, and under 7s enter free. Tickets show a start time, so be at the door on time. See the Belfry page .

Museums and the pass

The Sint-Janshospitaal was a working hospital until 1977 and holds the Memling collection, which Musea Brugge describes as the second largest in the world. The Church of Our Lady museum has Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child. The Groeningemuseum, at Dijver 12, closes on 11 January 2027 for around four years of building work, with highlights shown at BRUSK next door.

The Musea Brugge Card (EUR 49, EUR 37 under 26, EUR 25 under 18) is good for 72 hours. Each place can be visited once. It does not include boats, buses, the brewery or Choco-Story.

Brewery and chocolate

The De Halve Maan tour lasts about 45 minutes for up to 25 people. Children aged 7 to 15 pay EUR 8.50, and the tour includes about 220 steps. The brewery makes Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik, and it connects to its bottling plant by a 3.3 km underground beer pipeline. At Choco-Story, three floors tell about 5,500 years of cacao history, and visitors can book praline workshops.

Booking

Browse tickets and guided options on GetYourGuide .